Film4 Summer Screen at Somerset House

Thu 9 Aug           OPENING NIGHT UK PREMIERE: THE WIFE, INTRODUCED BY GLENN CLOSE AND DIRECTOR BJÖRN RUNGE IN PERSON AT SOMERSET HOUSE

Fri 10 Aug           INCEPTION

Sat 11 Aug          LABYRINTH + THE WIZARD OF OZ

Sun 12 Aug         REBECCA   

Mon 13 Aug        BEING JOHN MALKOVICH                             

Tue 14 Aug         20 FEET FROM STARDOM      

Wed 15 Aug        CAROL      

Thu 16 Aug         BLUE VELVET      

Fri 17 Aug           LA BELLE ET LA BETE + BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN

Sat 18 Aug          TOTAL RECALL + A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET

Sun 19 Aug         SLEEPING BEAUTY

Mon 20 Aug        CALL ME BY YOUR NAME

Tues 21 Aug        SELMA

Wed 22 Aug        CLOSING NIGHT UK PREMIERE: AMERICAN ANIMALS, INTRODUCED BY DIRECTOR BART LAYTON IN PERSON AT SOMERSET HOUSE

Each evening includes an exclusive screening of original short film ‘FOR SOOTH’, commissioned by Somerset House and created by Somerset House Studios artists Mel Brimfield and Ewan Jones Morris    

Tickets from £19.75 (£17.00 + booking fee) available from Friday 18 May 2018 at somersethouse.org.uk

Film4 Summer Screen at Somerset House – the stunning open-air cinema in central London – returns for a fortnight this August.  All films in this year’s festival line-up reflect on the theme of ‘dreams, fantasies, nocturnes and reveries’.  The distinguished selection features inspirational stories of ambition, freedom and equality, celebrations of love, nostalgia and desire, and some of the most fantastical narratives and scenery ever seen on screen.  Film4 Summer Screen brings the best of classic, cult and contemporary cinema to Somerset House’s courtyard, including fun double-bill nights and red-carpet premieres of hotly-anticipated releases such as THE WIFE and AMERICAN ANIMALS, shown under the night sky on London’s largest state-of-the-art outdoor screen with full surround sound.

Unlike any other open-air season, Film4 Summer Screen offers the chance to get closer to the people that create cinema.  Special guest appearances and a programme of exciting pre-film events cement it as the film fan’s choice of outdoor cinema experiences.  2018’s programme presents Behind the Screen with Grey Goose, a series of insightful talks from the brightest minds in film making, such as director Bart Layton discussing his cinematic inspirations and influences ahead of the UK premiere of his second feature film AMERICAN ANIMALS (the full Behind the Screen with Grey Goose line-up will be announced in June).  Also as part of the East Wing Edit, Little White Lies will run a residency of hands-on workshops on the art of films.  For the final week of the season, this takeover offers visitors an opportunity to discover the processes behind the creation of the eminent movie magazine.

2018 FESTIVAL LINE UP IN FULL

PREMIERES

Film4 Summer Screen opens with the UK premiere of one of 2018’s most anticipated films, THE WIFE.  In one of her finest performances, Glenn Close plays Joan Castleman, the faithful wife of a feted writer (Jonathan Pryce), who is starting to emerge from her husband’s famous shadow, in this compelling and emotional drama.  On the eve of his Nobel Prize for Literature, Joan will confront the biggest sacrifice of her life along with some long-buried secrets. A celebration of womanhood, self-discovery and liberation THE WIFE is based on the best-selling book by Meg Wolitzer and features a stunning cast that also includes Christian Slater, Elizabeth McGovern and Max Irons.  Film4 Summer Screen is thrilled to announce that Glenn Close and director Björn Runge will introduce the premiere in person at Somerset House.

The season closes with white-knuckle heist thriller AMERICAN ANIMALS, the unbelievable true story of four students who mistake their lives for a movie and attempt to pull off one of the most audacious art-thefts in recent US history.  AMERICAN ANIMALS features rising young stars Evan Peters (American Horror Story; the X-Men series) and Barry Keoghan (Dunkirk; The Killing of a Sacred Deer) and is from the BAFTA-winning director of The Imposter Bart Layton, who will introduce the premiere at Film4 Summer Screen on the final evening.

DOUBLE-BILLS

A highlight of Film4 Summer Screen are the fun back-to-back screenings on Saturday nights.  The first finds the popular fantasies LABYRINTH and THE WIZARD OF OZ, two magical musical adventures into weird and wonderful dream worlds brought together on the same bill.  And the second Saturday ventures into the darker side of dreams with the extravagant science-fiction favourite TOTAL RECALL, directed by Paul Verhoeven and starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, teamed up with the ‘80s horror hit A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET from director Wes Craven.

On Friday 17 August, a special celebration of classic black-and-white fantasy cinema will make for a magical escape from contemporary reality.  Film4 Summer Screen marries LA BELLE ET LA BETE, the first-ever film adaptation of the perennially popular story of Beauty and the Beast, with BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN, considered to be one of the greatest sequels of all time. The former, directed by writer, artist, poet and filmmaker Jean Cocteau and originally released in 1946, brings the familiar fairytale to life with some of the most beautiful and memorable images ever created for the screen. The latter follows Dr. Frankenstein, as he builds a mate for his monster, played by Boris Karloff, and gives audiences an opportunity to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the publication of Mary Shelley’s dream-inspired original novel Frankenstein.

ALSO SHOWING

Dr. Martin Luther King’s ‘I have a dream…’ speech is one of history’s most famous inspirational public addresses. To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the death of the civil rights leader, Film4 Summer Screen presents Ava DuVernay’s SELMA, which chronicles in electrifying fashion the 1965 march for equal voting rights that were to take demonstrators fifty miles from Selma, Alabama, to the state capital of Montgomery.

Having attracted much acclaim during this year’s awards season, Film4 Summer Screen offers another chance to catch the ultimate romantic reverie CALL ME BY YOUR NAME, in similarly scenic surroundings to those shown on screen.  Another achingly poignant and visually ravishing romance comes with CAROL, a further story of forbidden love and powerful yet unspoken feelings, starring Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara in 1950s New York.

Other modern classics include INCEPTION, director Christopher Nolan’s visually stunning dream-heist thriller with an all-star cast on the first Friday night of the season; director Spike Jonze’s wild and inventive comedy that takes you inside the head of a movie star with BEING JOHN MALKOVICH; and BLUE VELVET, the mesmerising Oscar-nominated mystery that takes the form of a dark dream directed by David Lynch.

There are further award-winners in 20 FEET FROM STARDOM, an Oscar-winning documentary on the world’s biggest unsung female voices.  The film is a touching tribute to the backing singers who, despite having helped to shape the sound of legendary soul music, have always been one step away from their dream of their spotlight.  To make the most of this night, film fans are invited to step into The Influence Project too.  As part of Somerset House’s East Wing Edit throughout the summer, The Influence Project features never-seen-before photographic portraits of pioneers of R&B, Funk, Soul, Afrobeat and Hip Hop, who – like the subjects of 20 FEET FROM STARDOM – have contributed so much to contemporary sound and culture.

For a magical family Sunday film night, Film4 Summer Screen features a Disney animated classic for the first time in the form of 1959’s SLEEPING BEAUTY. Audiences of all ages will be transported by one of the studio’s most cinematic films, only the second full-length animated feature film to be presented in widescreen. Gloriously colourful, with the wonderfully wicked Maleficent character and music adapted from Tchaikovsky, this promises to be the sort of evening that only comes along ‘Once Upon a Dream’.  During the day, an array of hands-on activities for all the family will celebrate the art of animation.

For many, classic Hollywood represents the ultimate ‘dream factory’. This golden age is represented by none other than Alfred Hitchcock and his first American film REBECCA, a Gothic mystery which won the Oscar for Best Picture of 1940. Laurence Olivier and Joan Fontaine star in this tortured romantic tale, adapted from Daphne Du Maurier’s beloved novel which celebrates its 80th anniversary this year.

SHORT FILM, FOR SOOTH

New this year, Somerset House has commissioned a short film to be screened ahead of each evening’s feature film, setting the atmosphere for the fantastical stories ahead.  Starring David Cann (Brass Eye), FOR SOOTH has been created by performance artist Mel Brimfield and filmmaker Ewan Jones Morris - both are artists in Somerset House Studios, the experimental workspace inside Somerset House, which encourages multi-disciplinary collaboration.  FOR SOOTH temporarily transforms Somerset House’s courtyard into an ancient ruined temple housing the vast disembodied head of an Oracle. Casting the filmgoers as attendants from the four corners of the city to hear his Word, the film features elaborate psychedelic animated sequences, combined with live action and centres on the virtuoso performance of a scripted monologue.

MORE TO DO ON THE NIGHT

For fourteen summer evenings, more than 2,000 film lovers leave the hustle and bustle of London behind, escape to the spectacular surroundings of Somerset House (which has itself served as a set for many memorable movies) and enter into its magical world of films, for the ultimate communal cinema experience.

Film4 Summer Screen audiences are advised to come early to take advantage of the associated events – including Behind the Screen with Grey Goose – or simply soak up the sounds of a different live DJ every evening, chosen for a set inspired by the upcoming film.

Film4 Summer Screen audiences are welcome to bring along snacks for screenings, though to make it an extra special experience, handcrafted hampers from Bryn Williams – Somerset House’s new restaurant – can be ordered and ready on arrival.  They feature a feast of picnic favourites from Loch Fyne Smoked Salmon platters with soda bread and pear chutney, Ham, pea and mint tarts, Rahut squash and quinoa salad, Truffle crisps, Strawberry and Chantilly cream and Macarons. A full bar and fantastic hot food, from artisan sourdough pizzas to showstopper nachos with homemade salsas, is also served up on site throughout the season.

For the ultimate experience, back-rests and blankets for extra comfort and warmth can be pre-ordered in advance and for those who want a seat, a very limited number of seated tickets are available at the rear of the courtyard for all screenings.

-Ends-

For further press enquiries, please contact Stephanie Pilling, Deputy Head of PR of Somerset House on press@somersethouse.org.uk or 020 7845 4624

Film4 Summer Screen at Somerset House, Somerset House, Strand, London, WC2 1LA

• Tickets will go on sale on 18 May and will be available from www.somersethouse.org.uk
• Film4 Summer Screen runs from 9 – 22 August 2018
• Ticket prices start from £19.75 (£17.50 + booking fee)
• Doors open at 18.30, DJs from 18.45 and film starts approx. 21.00

About Somerset House

Inspiring contemporary culture

A unique part of the London cultural scene, Somerset House is an historic building where surprising and original work comes to life. From its 18th-century origins, Somerset House has been a centre for debate and discussion – an intellectual powerhouse for the nation. Somerset House is today a key cultural destination in London in which to experience a broad range of artistic activity, engage with artists, designers and makers and be a part of a major creative forum – an environment that is relaxed, welcoming, and inspirational to visit while providing a stimulating workplace for the cultural and creative industries. 

Since its opening in 2000, Somerset House has built up a distinctive outdoor public programme including Skate, concerts, an open-air film season and a diverse range of temporary exhibitions throughout the site focusing on contemporary culture, with an extensive learning programme attached. In October 2016, Somerset House launched Somerset House Studios, a new experimental workspace connecting artists, makers and thinkers with audiences. The Studios provide a platform for new creative projects and collaboration, promoting work that pushes bold ideas, engages with urgent issues and pioneers new technologies. Somerset House is also one of the biggest community of creative organisations in London including The Courtauld Gallery and Institute of Art, King’s College London Cultural Institute and over 100 other creative businesses. It currently attracts approximately 3.4 million visitors every year.  

www.somersethouse.org.uk

About Behind the Screen with Grey Goose

Film4 Summer Screen at Somerset House presents Behind the Screen, a programme of insightful talks by the film industry’s brightest minds that aims to bring the world of cinema into sharper focus. This year’s programme will be co-curated in partnership with Film4’s David Cox and Sally Griffiths, Director of Cinema and British Film Institute, Film Hub Wales. The full line-up will be announced in June. 

About East Wing Edit

From 26 June – 22 August 2018, East Wing Edit presents a summer of free activity for all ages, offering a unique insight into Somerset House’s main events and exhibitions including Print! Tearing it Up, Somerset House Summer Series, Film4 Summer Screen, Circus Sampler and Process! You'll find displays, workshops, talks, performances and pop-ups that engage in wider discussions about the creative processes and industry, such as The Influence Project – a display of photographic portraits of musical pioneers – and Little White Lies’ residency.

The programme for 2018 celebrates creative pioneers that have shaped or are shaping culture by investigating the world we live in. The East Wing Edit will delve deeper into the stories showcased in Somerset House’s summer season, offering visitors the chance to meet artists, collectives and organisations who are working collaboratively, testing new material and making work which challenges boundaries.

About Film4

Film4 is available for free to everyone with digital TV. A daily line-up of great movies guarantees a choice for every type of film fan, including the best of British film-making, US independent films, Hollywood blockbusters, mainstream drama and comedy. Film4 is Channel 4 Television’s feature film division, which develops and co-finances films and has an established track record for working with the most distinctive and innovative talent in UK and international filmmaking. Film4 has developed and/or co-financed many of the most successful UK films of recent years – Academy Award-winners such as Martin McDonagh’s Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, Lenny Abrahamson’s Room, Alex Garland’s Ex Machina, Asif Kapadia’s Amy, Steve McQueen’s 12 Years a Slave, Danny Boyle’s Slumdog Millionaire and Phyllida Lloyd’s The Iron Lady, in addition to critically-acclaimed award-winners such as Lynne Ramsay’s You Were Never Really Here, Yorgos Lanthimos’s The Killing of a Sacred Deer, Rungano Nyoni’s I Am Not a Witch, Andrew Haigh’s Lean On Pete, Andrea Arnold’s American Honey, Todd Haynes’ Carol, Mike Leigh’s Mr. Turner, Shane Meadows’ This is England, Clio Barnard’s The Selfish Giant, Jonathan Glazer’s Under the Skin and David Mackenzie’s Starred Up. www.film4.com | @Film4

About Mel Brimfield

Mel Brimfield’s lively and diverse visual art practice takes a skewed and tangled romp through the already vexed historiography of performance, appropriating theatrical and mainstream entertainment formats and genres to appraise the use and value of received cultural hierarchies. Drawing together multiple institutions, agencies, curators and producers representing a broad spread of disciplines, her work is the result of intensive collaboration with a rolling cast of actors, composers and musicians, designers, choreographers, dancers and singers, resulting in photographic, film and large-scale live performance works.

Mel recently collaborated with composer Gwyneth Herbert to create a musical documentary film in the form of a Living Newspaper about visionary socialist theatre director Joan Littlewood for Art on the Underground. She built an ersatz Fluxus pianola-based kinetic sculptural installation for The Government Art Collection at the Whitechapel Gallery, and restaged Andy Kaufman’s Intergender Wrestling with comedian Simon Munnery for the London Word Festival. Mel Brimfield’s solo exhibitions include 'Death and Dumb', John Hansard Gallery (Southampton) 'Between Genius and Desire', Ceri Hand Gallery, (London); 'This is Performance Art – Performed Sculpture and Dance', Yorkshire Sculpture Park and Quantum Foam, Kinsale Arts Festival (Ireland).

About Ewan Jones Morris

Ewan Jones Morris takes a multidisciplinary approach to filmmaking, often combing live action, collage, stop motion and CGI all within one project. He is also one half of directing duo Casey + Ewan, directing and co-directing music videos for the likes of DJ Shadow, Leftfield, John Grant, The Human League, Cate Le Bon and many more. 

His work has attracted a number of awards and nominations, as well as being regularly featured at Adam Buxton’s BFI fixture BUG. His filmmaking collaborations with artist Bedwyr Williams have been exhibited at the Venice Biennale, Glasgow International Arts Festival and the Barbican. His recent BFI funded short film “This Far Up” was selected for the prestigious Clermont-Ferrand film festival.